more about the bike

Joe Bike founder, Joe Doebele set out to make a Bakfiets-style bike made to handle the hills in Portland. Traditional Dutch Bakfiets weigh around a hundred pounds unloaded and are fine for hauling kids, groceries, and the occasional sofa on the pancake-flat roads of the Netherlands. Portland has hills, so Joe hand-made this bike from American Steel. It weighs around 55 pounds with the cabin, has an internal 8 speed Alfine belt-driven hub and burly disc brakes. While I am sure it will easily conquer the Portland hills fully loaded, WE live in Marin County, at the top of a 14% average grade with a 22% switch back just before the end. Add 70-80 pounds of kids and mamma is pretty buffed. I think the e-assist will be added soon. 

finally...

Liz did a ton of research this Spring and we ordered this cargo bike from Joe Bike in Portland. It was supposed to be here in July- but it finally arrived late October and we put the cabin on today for its maiden voyage. The kids will ride in the front an we'll eventually get an electric assist hub to get them up the 22% grade on our hill. So far- worth the wait.